Legal Question in Personal Injury in Maryland

My boyfriend stayed at a Hampton Inn last night and was bitten repeatedly by bedbugs. He took pictures of the bites and kept some of the bugs. They moved him to another room and offered to not charge him for staying there. They said they will give him a free night stay and clean his clothes. They also agreed to pay his exterminator fees for a year. He is extremely upset. Does he have grounds for a lawsuit?


Asked on 10/05/10, 11:40 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Phillip M. Cook Cook Legal Services, LLC

Yes. You can sue for negligence. You will have to prove: (i) Hampton had a duty to your boyfriend (to have clean beds), (ii) that they breached that duty (by failing to have beds free of bedbugs), (iii) that the Hampton's negligence was the "proximate cause" of your boyfriend's bites, and (iv) that your boyfriend suffered damages (the bites). Number (iii) above is always the tough one -- even though your boyfriend took pictures, he will have to PROVE that bedbugs were the cause of his symptoms. Did he go to a doctor and have it diagnosed? Is there any EVIDENCE other than what could perhaps be a pre-existing skin condition that it was bed bugs?

I STRONGLY recommend that you consult with a Maryland personal injury lawyer, who can review your pictures, any documentation you might have, and better assess what your chances of success may be if you proceed.

Best of luck.*******The above is for informational purposes and does not create an attorney-client privilege.*********

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Answered on 10/10/10, 2:43 pm


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